Much he desir'd to reach the Colchian shore,
And meet Ætes, who the sceptre bore.
Two gallant sons from Hyparesius sprung,
Asterius and Amphion, bold and young,
Achaian striplings, from Pellene* came,
The city bore their grandsire Pelias name.
Its walls he rais'd beneath th' o'erhanging steep
Where towering cliffs protect the glassy deep.
The son of Neptune by a mortal dame
From Tanarus the swift Euphemus came,
Europa fair from Tityos claim'd her birth,
From Tityos doom'd to pangs in depths of earth,
This beauteous offspring she to Neptune gave,
Endow'd with swiftness from the kindred wave,
O'er rapid waters, o'er the hoary deep
Swift, swift as winds the steps aerial sweep,
Nor dipt their traces in the watry vast,
As scarcely felt the humid path he past.
Two other chiefs, that birth from Neptune drew
Gave added lustre to the noble crew:
Far-fam'd Miletus bold Erginus sent,
His steps from Samos fierce Ancaus bent,
Far from Parthenian Imbrasus he rov'd,
And hallow'd banks by virgin Junot lov'd,
Both train'd in warfare, skilful both to guide,
The lab'ring vessel thro' the foamy tide.
From Calydon Enides join'd the throng,
Bold Meleager darling of the song.
To check the sallies of presumptuous youth,
To guide his paths in fortitude and truth,
* Pellene, a city of Achaa. Pallene, a city of Arcadia.
Frequented by Juno before her marriage with
A father's cares with him Laocoön send
Mature in age, the parent and the friend,
For Eneus' sire, by roving fancy led,
Had call'd a menial female to his bed,
Yet, though connected by a spurious tie,
Fondly he view'd his brother's progeny.
To manly feats his dawning youth he train❜d;
And longer had th' illustrious boy remain❜d,
Form'd by such precepts, his expanded fame
Had reach'd the glories of Alcides' name.
The son of Thestias, Iphiclus, was there,
Skill'd in the dart, and combats of the spear,
Althea's brother, ties of kindred join'd,
And more effectual the congenial mind,
To bid him chuse, through danger and renown,
To make the youth's eventful lot his own.
Next Palamonius caught the generous fire,
Olenian* Lernus was the hero's sire.
Reputed sire-to Vulcan birth he ow'd—
His halting gait the genuine father show'd.
That blemish in his form might malice find,
None, in his actions, and his godlike mind.
From Phocis, dear to the prophetic God,†
Seats where his grandsire Ornytus abode,
The youthful son of Naubolus appear'd,
Where fame and Jason the bright banners rear'd;
Bold Iphitus, whom ties of kindred mind ·
And bands religious with the hero join'd;
For at his hospitable board, the bowl,
And genial rites had pledg'd the mutual soul,
When Eson's son repair'd to Delphi's shrine,
Guide of his course, to learn the will divine;
*Olenus was a place in Achaa.
↑ Apollo, on account of the oracle of Delphi.
Calais and Zetes, the wing'd brothers came,
Offspring of Boreas, by a mortal dame.
Amid her equals, as the beauteous maid,
Erectheus' daughter, Orithyia play'd,
The stormy god beheld with wild desire;
Far from her native land and weeping sire,
Far from her lov'd Cecropia's sunny hills,
Flow'rs of Hymettus, cool Ilyssus' rills,
The shrieking maid the tyrant lover bore,
To Thracian wilds, where winds eternal roar,
Where drifted snows o'erwhelm the distant plains,
And winter scowls, and desolation reigns,
Where rifted rocks, in frightful crags arise,
And foggy damps involve th' inclement skies.
Around his bride impervious clouds he spread,
And mists and vapours were their nuptial bed.
An airy pinion from each heel display'd
O'er their light footsteps cast a plumy shade,
Sky-tinctur'd pinions, wond'rous to behold.
Transparent plumage all bedropt with gold;
And on their shoulders mantling broad behind
Their raven tresses wanton'd with the wind.
Nor did Acastus fill'd with youthful fire
Partake the feelings of his jealous sire,
What diff'rent passions, diff'rent aims engage
Kind ardent youth, and cold malignant age!
The sire, for Jason spreads the mortal snare,
The son resolves his enterprize to share.
Charm'd with the subjects of a father's hate,
He loves their dangers, and pursues their fate.
Last Argus, priest of Pallas, quits the fane
Of wisdom's goddess, for the stormy main.
These bold companions Jason rous'd to fame,
The region call'd them by one common name,
Th' advent'rous MINYA; for of Minyas' blood,
The chief, in numbers, and in prowess stood.
Minyas, whose daughters, in illustrious line,
Were wives and parents of a race divine.
Nor did thy charms or progeny disgrace,
Fair Clymene, the glories of that race.
Alcimede surpast her mother's charms,
And Jason fill'd her fond maternal arms.
Now had their slaves prepar'd with careful hand,
For ease and safety of th' advent'rous band,
Whate'er in ships is hoarded, for the train
That purpose weary wand'rings o'er the main.
Then, through the streets, with calm undaunted pace,
In solemn order, mov'd the godlike race,
And sought the strand renown'd in future fame,
Magnesian Pagasa, illustrious name.
They past, distinguis: 'd, through the black'ning crowd, Like stars resplendent 'mid the dusky cloud. Emotions mingled-wonder-pity-love, Fill the spectators, as the heroes move. As the big tear stood trembling in each eye, One would indignant to his neighbour cry, "Ye Gods, what demon Pelias' heart can sway, "And bid him chace heroic worth away? "Oh blindly tyrannous the lust of gain, "That dooms to banishment this gallant train, "The prime and flow'r of universal Greece,
Thro' savage climes to seek the fatal fleece! "Yet, safely may the glorious band return, "Proud of the fleecy gold in triumph borne! "The treasure freely let Æëtes yield, "Or force extort it, in the sanguine field; "Let flames devouring on his palace prey, "While our brave Greeks pursue their joyful way! "But no-the prospect lowrs-a dismal gloom— "Unfruitful labours, and a watʼry tomb.". Meantime, the softer sex, with hands and eyes
Uprais'd, implor'd each native of the skies,
"On ev'ry youthful head a blessing send,
"And grant their wand'rings a propitious end!"
Then each to th' other turning would complain,
As passion dictated the mournful strain.-
"What sorrows sad Alcimede await!
"What sudden clouds o'ercast her shining fate!
"And hapless Æson-better had the gloom
"Of death unconscious borne thee to the tomb,
"Than childless, hopeless in thy life's decline,
"To think despairing-such a son was mine→→
"O Phryxus, why wert thou preserv'd, tó weep
"A sister whelm'd beneath the stormy deep?
"O that the fleece, portentous cause of woe,
"Had sunk for ever in the depths below,
"Nor bestial organs inauspicious found,
"The force articulate of human sound.
"Hence, hence, Alcimede, thy bitter tears,
"The sorrows hence, that aged Æson bears."
The first appearance of the godlike crew
Such plaints as these from many a female drew.
Round the domestics male and female crowd-
They gaz'd a parting look-they wept aloud.-
The mother came, transfix'd with sorrow's dart,
She clasp'd her son—she strain'd him to her heart.
O'erwhelm'd with sorrows, and in life's decay,
Sunk on his couch the wretched father lay.
In
many a fold he wrapt his aged head.
Existence loathing, from the light he fled;
And sought from ev'ry eye to veil the grief
Too big for tears, impatient of relief.
His parent's anguish pious Jason chear'd;
Hope fill'd his words, and on his brow appear'd.
Around his neck while yet his parents hung,
He calls for armour to th' attendant throng,
Th' attendant throng his radiant arms prepare,
With downcast eyes, in silence of despair.
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